Dipyrromethene complexes of iron

Dipyrromethenes (dipyrrins) are attractive ligands for forming supramolecular assemblies due to the stability, crystallinity, and spectroscopic properties of their metal complexes. Herein we report the synthesis, structure, spectroscopy, and electrochemistry of two dipyrrin iron(III) complexes. High-quality structural data of both complexes, Fe(dipyrrin)3 and Fe(dipyrrinCO2CH3)3, have been obtained by X-ray crystallography. The UV–Vis absorption spectrum of both complexes has been examined and cyclic voltammetry experiments have been performed on the complexes to evaluate the iron(III/II) couples. These represent the first structures of iron–dipyrrin complexes, as well as the first electrochemical studies of any meso-substituted dipyrrin transition metal complexes.